Aquarium food
Aquarium food isn't a single category the way it might look on a shelf — flakes, pellets and sticks are formulated differently and behave differently in the water, and the right choice depends on the species you keep and where they naturally feed, whether that's the surface, mid-water or the substrate.
Flakes, pellets and sticks aren't interchangeable
Flakes float and slowly settle, suiting fish that feed at the surface or mid-water, like most tropical community fish. Sinking pellets, such as King British's Goldfish Sinking Pellets, go straight to the bottom instead, which suits bottom-feeding or bottom-dwelling species, and also matters for goldfish specifically, who are prone to gulping air at the surface when fed floating food, which can contribute to swim bladder problems.
Sticks, like Tetramin's range, tend to be aimed at larger fish or specific groups such as pond fish, and often hold together longer in water than flake, which matters for species that take longer to finish feeding. Checking which format suits your actual fish, rather than buying whatever's most visible on the shelf, makes a real difference to how much food actually gets eaten rather than fouling the water.
Overfeeding is the most common mistake
Uneaten food breaks down in the tank and adds directly to ammonia and nitrate levels, which is one of the most common causes of poor water quality in home aquariums. Feeding a small amount that's fully consumed within a couple of minutes, rather than a larger amount 'to be safe', keeps both fish and water healthier.
It's worth resisting the temptation to feed more just because fish appear to beg at the glass — most aquarium fish will always act hungry regardless of how recently they were fed, and that behaviour isn't a reliable guide to how much food they actually need.
Matching food to species
A community tank with a mix of surface and mid-water feeders often does best on a general flake as the staple, with the occasional sinking food added for anything that feeds lower down. A specialist setup — goldfish, cichlids, a planted tank with algae-eating species — usually benefits from a food formulated for that group specifically rather than a generic flake alone.
Weekend or holiday feeding blocks, like Supa's Fish Food Weekend, are useful for short absences but aren't meant to replace normal daily feeding long-term — they're formulated to slow-release over a couple of days, not to be a regular part of the routine.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Tetra Goldfish Flakes
Complete goldfish flakes in several pack sizes, with a shared formula across the family
From£3.02
Tetra Goldfish Granules
Complete granules for goldfish, with a shared formula across both pack options
From£3.98
Tetra Prima Mini Granules
Slow-sinking granules for mid-water and bottom-feeding fish, blending herbivore and omnivore diets
£6.10
Tetra Aquasafe
A water conditioner that neutralises chlorine and heavy metals, with an added vitamin B mix
From£6.41
Tetra Pond Fish Food Variety Sticks
Complete Tetra Pond Variety Sticks in three colours, across four pack sizes
From£6.41
Tetra Koi Pond Fish Food Sticks
Complete fast-soaking Tetra Pond Koi Sticks, available in four pack sizes
From£6.41
Tetramin
Complete TetraMin flake food for ornamental fish, offered across several pack sizes
From£2.39
Tetra Temperate Flakes
Complete flakes for subtropical fish kept at 18–23°C, with vegetable ingredients
£6.99
Tetra Pond Fish Food Sticks
Complete fast-soaking Tetra Pond Sticks for pond fish, in seven pack sizes
From£4.77
Tetra Japan
Sinking dry pellets for fancy goldfish, with pack-specific label information shown clearly
From£4.56
Common questions
- How often should I feed aquarium fish?
- Once or twice a day is typical for most tropical fish, in an amount they can fully finish within a couple of minutes. Overfeeding is far more common and more harmful than underfeeding, since uneaten food breaks down and damages water quality.
- Should I use flakes or pellets for my fish?
- It depends on where your fish feed — flakes suit surface and mid-water feeders, while sinking pellets suit bottom-dwelling species and goldfish specifically, who are prone to gulping air with floating food. Check your species' natural feeding behaviour rather than picking whichever looks more familiar.
- Can I use a weekend feeding block instead of feeding normally?
- Only for short absences, such as a weekend away. These blocks are designed to slow-release food over a day or two rather than replace daily feeding as a regular routine, and shouldn't be used as an ongoing substitute.
- Why does my fish always seem hungry?
- Most aquarium fish will beg or act hungry regardless of how recently they've eaten — it isn't a reliable sign they need more food. Stick to a consistent, modest amount that's fully eaten within a couple of minutes rather than feeding in response to their behaviour.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.